Aerosol provision device

ABSTRACT

An aerosol provision device is described. The device has an aerosol generating assembly. A housing encapsulates the aerosol generating assembly and has an opening for receiving at least part of an article in the aerosol generating assembly. The device has a non-removable panel on an outer side of the housing.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No.PCT/EP2021/082373, filed Nov. 19, 2021, which claims priority from GBApplication No. 2018301.8, filed Nov. 20, 2022, each of which is herebyfully incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol provision device. Thepresent disclosure also relates to a method of assembling an aerosolprovision device, and an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosolprovision device and an article comprising aerosol generating material.

BACKGROUND

Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobaccoduring use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to providealternatives to these articles that burn tobacco by creating productsthat release compounds without burning. Examples of such products areheating devices which release compounds by heating, but not burning, thematerial. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobaccoproducts, which may or may not contain nicotine.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided anaerosol provision device comprising an aerosol generating assembly, ahousing encapsulating the aerosol generating assembly, the housingcomprising an opening for receiving at least part of an article in theaerosol generating assembly, and a non-removable panel on an outer sideof the housing.

In an embodiment of the above, the non-removable panel wraps around partof the housing.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the panel is at leastpartially arcuate and corresponds to an arcuate part of the housing.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the non-removable panel isa cover fixed to the housing.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the non-removable panel isfixed by a mechanical connection.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the mechanical connectioncomprises a one-way clip.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the non-removable panel isbonded to the housing.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing defines a fluidbarrier, and the non-removable panel covers at least part of the fluidbarrier.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing comprises afirst surface portion covered by the non-removable panel and an exposedsecond surface portion.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the first surface portionhas a first surface texture, and the second surface portion comprises asecond, different, surface texture.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the first surface portionhas a first surface texture, and the non-removable panel comprises anexposed panel surface with a second, different surface texture.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the non-removable panelcomprises an exposed panel surface and the exposed panel surface is atleast substantially co-planar with the exposed second surface portion.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the panel is at leastsubstantially in contact with the first surface portion across an innerside of the panel.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the non-removable panelencompasses at least part of the housing.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing is elongate anddefines an axis, and wherein the non-removable panel is elongate in theaxial direction.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing comprises astep and an edge of the non-removable panel abuts against the step.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing has a recessedportion and the non-removable panel is in the recessed portion.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing comprises atubular body and an end cap, wherein the non-removable panel is on thetubular body.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing defines acomponent cavity in which the aerosol generating assembly is disposedand the aerosol generating assembly defines an article receiving chamberextending from the opening, wherein the article receiving chamber isisolated from the component cavity.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the aerosol generatingassembly comprises a heater assembly having a heating element forheating an article.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided asystem comprising the aerosol provision device of any of the above, andan article comprising aerosol generating material.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided amethod of assembling an aerosol provision device, the method comprisingproviding an aerosol generating assembly, providing a housingencapsulating the aerosol generating assembly and comprising an openingfor receiving at least a part of an article in the aerosol generatingassembly, non-removably attaching a panel to an outer side of thehousing.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided anaerosol provision device comprising an aerosol generating assembly, anda shell encapsulating the aerosol generating assembly; the shelldefining an outer surface of the device and an opening in the outersurface for inserting at least part of an article in the aerosolgenerating assembly, wherein the shell comprises a first shell partforming a first portion of the outer surface and a second shell partforming a second portion of the outer surface, wherein the first shellpart comprises a panel extending on an inner side on the second shellpart, and the first shell part is inseparable from the second shellpart.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided anaerosol provision device comprising an aerosol generating assembly, ahousing encapsulating the aerosol generating assembly, the housingincluding an opening for receiving an article, the housing comprising asingle ply region of the shell and a multiple ply region of the shell.

In an embodiment of the above, the multiple ply region is a double plyregion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an aerosol provision device.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerosol provisiondevice of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 shows a partially exploded view of the aerosol provision deviceof FIG. 1 with a non-removable panel shown separated from a housing.

FIG. 4 shows another partially exploded view of the aerosol provisiondevice of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 shows a view of the aerosol provision device of FIG. 1 fromabove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “aerosol generating material” includesmaterials that provide volatilized components upon heating, typically inthe form of an aerosol. Aerosol generating material includes anytobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more oftobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco ortobacco substitutes. Aerosol generating material also may include other,non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may notcontain nicotine. Aerosol generating material may for example be in theform of a solid, a liquid, a gel, a wax or the like. Aerosol generatingmaterial may for example also be a combination or a blend of materials.Aerosol generating material may also be known as “smokable material”.

Apparatus is known that heats aerosol generating material to volatilizeat least one component of the aerosol generating material, typically toform an aerosol which can be inhaled, without burning or combusting theaerosol generating material. Such apparatus is sometimes described as an“aerosol generating device”, an “aerosol provision device”, a“heat-not-burn device”, a “tobacco heating product device” or a “tobaccoheating device” or similar. Similarly, there are also so-callede-cigarette devices, which typically vaporize an aerosol generatingmaterial in the form of a liquid, which may or may not contain nicotine.The aerosol generating material may be in the form of or be provided aspart of a rod, cartridge or cassette or the like which can be insertedinto the apparatus.

An aerosol provision device can receive an article comprising aerosolgenerating material for heating. An “article” in this context is acomponent that includes or contains in use the aerosol generatingmaterial, which is heated to volatilize the aerosol generating material,and optionally other components in use. A user may insert the articleinto the aerosol provision device before it is heated to produce anaerosol, which the user subsequently inhales. The article may be, forexample, of a predetermined or specific size that is configured to beplaced within a heating chamber of the device which is sized to receivethe article. The article, in embodiments, is a consumable. That is, thearticle is discarded after use, for example following one or more uses,with another consumable article then being used.

FIG. 1 shows an aerosol provision device 100 for generating aerosol froman aerosol generating medium/material. In broad outline, the device 100may be used to heat a replaceable article 300 (refer to FIG. 2 )comprising the aerosol generating medium, to generate an aerosol orother inhalable medium which is inhaled by a user of the device 100.

The device 100 includes a body or enclosure assembly 101. The enclosureassembly 101 comprises a housing 102 surrounding and housing an aerosolgenerating assembly 200, which comprises various components forgenerating an aerosol from the received article. In one example, thearticle 300 is heated by a heater assembly to generate aerosol. Thehousing 102 has an opening 103 in one end, through which the article maybe inserted for heating. The opening 101 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 . Inuse, the article 300 may be fully or partially inserted into the devicewhere it may be heated by one or more components. In the example shown,the opening 101 is covered by a lid 140 of the housing 102 which isslidable to reveal or hide the opening, to protect the opening fromforeign material when not in use. The lid acts as a movable coveringelement to selectably cover or uncover the opening 103. The lid 140 maybe omitted as shown in FIG. 2 . The opening 103 is shown covered inFIGS. 1 to 3 and uncovered in FIG. 5 .

In one example, the aerosol generating assembly 200 comprises aninduction-type heater, including an induction coil and a susceptor. Theinduction coil is in communication with a power source, which energizesthe coil to generate a varying magnetic flux. The magnetic fluxgenerates a current in the susceptor, which in turn causes the susceptorto heat. The susceptor is in heat communication with the article, andheats the article to generate an aerosol. In another example the aerosolgenerating assembly 200 comprises a resistive heater, or another type ofheater. The aerosol generating assembly 200 in embodiments comprises twoor more types of heater. The heater may, for example be a tubular heaterand/or protruding, such as a blade, heater.

The device 100 also includes a user-operable control element 150, suchas a button or switch, which operates the device 100 when pressed. Forexample, a user may turn on the device 100 by operating the switch. Theswitch may form part of the housing 102.

The device 100 also comprises an electrical component, such as aconnector/port 160 (refer to FIG. 4 ), which can receive a cable tocharge a battery of the device 100. For example, the connector may be acharging port, such as a USB charging port. In some examples theconnector 160 may be used additionally or alternatively to transfer databetween the device 100 and another device, such as a computing device.

The device 100 comprises a power source 170 (refer to FIG. 2 ), forexample, a battery, such as a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeablebattery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, a lithiumbattery (such as a lithium-ion battery), a nickel battery (such as anickel-cadmium battery), and an alkaline battery.

With reference predominantly to FIG. 2 , the housing 102 of the device100 encapsulates the aerosol generating assembly 200. That is thehousing 102 surrounds the aerosol generating assembly 200 such thataccess to the aerosol generating assembly 200 is prevented when thehousing is present, with the exception of the opening 103 for insertingthe article 300. The housing 102 defines a component cavity 201 in whichthe aerosol generating assembly 200 is received. The housing 102 acts asa barrier to the component cavity 201 so as to contain the aerosolgenerating assembly 200 and provide protection from the environment. Thehousing 102 protects the user from the aerosol generating assembly, forexample preventing contact with electrical components and/or providingthermal resistance from the heated components. The housing 102substantially wholly surrounds the device 100 and the aerosol generatingassembly 200. The aerosol generating assembly 200 defines an articlereceiving chamber 202 extending from the opening 103. The articlereceiving chamber 202 is isolated from the component cavity 201. A cupand/or tubular member 203 may define the article receiving chamber 202.The housing 102 may act as a fluid barrier. The housing 102, inembodiments, fluidly isolates an outer side of the aerosol generatingassembly. The housing 102 acts as a shell.

The device 100 defines a proximal end 104, which is generally the endfrom which the user may inhale the aerosol which is generated, and adistal end 106 which is at an opposite end of the device to the proximalend 104. The opening 103 is at the proximal end 104. The device 100 iselongate. The device 100 defines a longitudinal axis X which extends ina direction from the proximal end 104 to the distal end 106. The housing102 surrounds the device 100 so as to form a continuous layer in acircumferential direction around the axis X.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the device 100 further comprises a panel 108 onthe housing 102. The panel 108 is arranged on an outer side of thehousing 102. The panel 108 acts as a second shell, with the housingacting as a first shell. The panel 108 comprises an inner panel side 114which faces the outer side of the housing 102, so as to cover a portionof the housing 102. The housing comprises a first surface portion 102 acovered by the panel 108 and an exposed second surface portion 102 b. Inembodiments, the first surface portion 102 a does not have any throughholes. The first surface portion may be an outwardly facing surface ontowhich the panel 108 is mounted.

Although shown in an exploded view in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the panel 108 ispermanently fixed with the housing 102. The panel 108 is non-separablefrom the housing 102 as will be described in detail below. The outermostsurface of the device 100 is thereby defined by the outer surface of thepanel 108, and the exposed second surface portion 102 b of the housing102.

The panel 108 is elongate, and extends between the proximal end 104 andthe distal end 106 parallel to the axis X. In the example shown, thepanel 108 extends substantially the whole length of the device 100 fromthe proximal end 104 to the distal end 106.

The panel 108 is arcuate, comprising a generally curved shape in theplane defined by the axis X. The panel comprises a substantiallyconstant, curved cross-section in the longitudinal direction of the axisX. The arcuate shape of the panel 108 corresponds in shape to a portionof the housing 102 which is also arcuate, such that the panel 108 fitsonto and engages with the arcuate portion of the housing 102. In theexample shown, the inner side 114 of the panel 108 is in contact withthe outer side of the housing 102 across substantially the whole of theinner side 114 of the panel 108.

As best seen in FIG. 5 , the housing 102 comprises a prism shape, with asubstantially constant cross-section extending from the proximal end 104to the distal end 106 of the device 100. The cross-sectional shape is aracetrack shape, comprising two linear sections 130, 132 joined by twocurved sections 134, 136. The panel 108 may be an end or side panel,which extends around and covers one of the curved sections 134 of thehousing 102, between two locations where the curved section 134 meetsthe linear sections 130, 132.

The housing 102 comprises a tubular section or element. As shown,tubular is not limited to circular cross-section, with the tubularsection comprising the two linear sections 130, 132 and the two curvedsections 134, 136. The tubular section extends from the proximal end 104to the distal end 106 of the device 100. At the proximal end 104 and thedistal end 106, the housing 102 further comprises end caps 105, 107which form the two axial ends of the device. The end caps 105, 107 formpart of the housing 102 and cover the ends of the tubular element. Theproximal end cap 105 comprises the covering 140 for the opening, asdescribed above.

The panel 108 comprises a shape of constant thickness in the radialdirection defined by the axis X. That is, the panel 108 is substantiallyplanar in a curved plane defined by the arcuate shape, so as to form ashell of constant thickness.

The shape of the panel 108 described above is such that it wraps arounda portion of the housing 102 to cover the portion of the housing.Together, the housing 102 and the panel 108 form a shell which surroundsthe aerosol generating assembly within the housing 102, with the housing102 forming a first shell part and the panel 108 forming a second shellpart. The shell formed by the housing 102 and the panel 108 togetherthereby comprises a single ply region, where the single layer of thehousing 102 alone covers the aerosol generating assembly, and a multipleply region, where the housing 102 and the panel 108 both cover theaerosol generating assembly. In the example shown, the multi ply regionis a two ply region formed by the two layers of the housing 102 and thepanel 108.

In the example shown, the housing 102 comprises a recessed section 116shaped to receive the panel 108. In the example shown, the recessedsection 116 generally corresponds to one of the curved sections 134 ofthe housing 102. The housing 102 defines a protruding section 117 whichcomprises the remaining section of the housing 102, in the example showngenerally corresponding to the linear sections 130, 132 and the othercurved section 136.

A step 118 is formed in the housing 102. The step 118 is defined along alongitudinal line which separates the recessed portion 116 and theprotruding portion 117 of the housing 102. In the example shown, twosteps 118 are formed along two such longitudinal lines defining therecessed portion 116. The panel 108 comprises edges 120 which abutagainst the step 118 of the housing. The step 118 and the edge 120 eachextend along substantially along the whole length of the device 100 fromthe proximal end 104 to the distal end 106. The path of each step maydiffer, and may not be linear.

The recessed portion 116, steps 118 and edges 120 allow a panel 108which is correspondingly shaped and sized to fit into the recessedsection 116 so that an outer surface of the panel 108 is flush with anouter surface of the housing 102 around the protruding portion 117. Thatis, the outer surface of the panel is co-planar with the outer surfaceof the housing at the location where the panel 108 abuts against thehousing 102.

The panel 108 is attached to the housing 102 in a permanent ornon-removable manner, i.e. by a non-removable attachment means. The term‘non-removable’, as used herein, is taken to mean that the panel 108cannot be removed from the housing 102 without causing damage to theattachment means, such that the panel 108 could not be reattached to thehousing 102 by the same attachment means without repair. A non-removableattachment means is one which substantially prevents the end-user fromremoving the panel 108. The panel 108 is non-movable. That is, it cannotbe moved relative to the housing 102. The panel 108 is fixed.

The attachment means in one example comprises a mechanical attachmentmeans. In one example, the attachment means comprises a clip and areceptacle for receiving the clip, where one of the clip and receptacleis part of the panel 108 and the other is part of the housing 102. Theclip engages with the receptacle so as to non-removably secure the panel108 to the housing 102.

In a further example, the attachment means comprises an adhesive whichforms a non-removable adhesive bond to both the panel 108 and thehousing 102. The adhesive may be applied in one location on the panel108 and the housing 102, or may be applied in a plurality of locationsto form a plurality of adhesive bonds between the panel 108 and thehousing 102.

In a further example, the attachment means comprises a combination of amechanical attachment means and an adhesive. For example, an adhesivemay be applied on the mechanical attachment means.

An example attachment means is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . The panel 108comprises a plurality of protrusions 110 and the housing 102 comprises aplurality of recesses 112 which are shaped correspondingly to theprotrusions 110 so as to receive the protrusions 110. An adhesive isapplied to the protrusions 110 and/or the recesses 112 and the panel 108is fitted to the housing 102 by snapping the protrusions into therecesses 112. The adhesive forms an adhesive bond between theprotrusions 110 and the recesses 112.

The arrangement described herein may aid the application of surfacemodifications such as patterning or finishes to the housing, such as forthe purpose of customization of the device, during manufacture. Applyingthe surface modifications directly to the housing can be undesirable asit may be difficult to apply surface modification to isolated portionsof the housing, and the material properties desired for the housing suchas strength and thermal insulation may not be conducive to surfacemodification. By using the arrangement described herein, these surfacemodifications may be applied in a straightforward manner to an elementhaving more suitable material properties. By using a permanentattachment for the panel, the first surface covered by the panel doesnot need to meet the high standards required for exposure to a user,which provides design freedom, and can, for example, provide protrusionsor elements which are used to assist in the manufacture of the housing.

By comprising a panel which is non-removably attached to a housing, thedevice may be provided with additional design freedom in the area of thehousing underlying the panel, while the panel provides an outer surfaceto the device which is more suitable for interaction by the user. Adevice with an encapsulating housing and an overlying non-removablepanel may be more easily manufactured, allowing features of the housingin the region covered by the side panel to be designed with reducedconcern for protection of the device from the environment, orsuitability of the region for interaction by the user.

In one example, the housing 102 comprises an outer surface, or anoutermost surface, which has a texture. The texture may be substantiallyconstant across the housing 102. The panel 108 may comprise an outersurface, or outermost surface, which has a texture that is different tothe texture of the housing 102. A texture may be characterized by theVDI scale (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure scale), the outer surfaces of thehousing 102 and the panel 108 comprising different VDI values.

By comprising a non-removable panel with a different texture to that ofan underlying housing, the device may be provided with improved grip,and/or an improved user-perception of temperature in different sectionsof the device.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples ofthe disclosure. Further embodiments of the disclosure are envisaged. Itis to be understood that any feature described in relation to any oneembodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other featuresdescribed, and may also be used in combination with one or more featuresof any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of theembodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not describedabove may also be employed without departing from the scope of thedisclosure, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

1. An aerosol provision device comprising: an aerosol generatingassembly; a housing encapsulating the aerosol generating assembly, thehousing comprising an opening for receiving at least part of an articlein the aerosol generating assembly; and a non-removable panel on anouter side of the housing.
 2. The aerosol provision device of claim 1,wherein the non-removable panel wraps around part of the housing.
 3. Theaerosol provision device of claim 1, wherein the non-removable panel isat least partially arcuate and corresponds to an arcuate part of thehousing.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The aerosol provision device of claim 1,wherein the non-removable panel is fixed by a mechanical connection 6.The aerosol provision device of claim 5, wherein the mechanicalconnection comprises a one-way clip.
 7. The aerosol provision device ofclaim 1, wherein the non-removable panel is bonded to the housing. 8.The aerosol provision device of claim 1, wherein the housing defines afluid barrier, and the non-removable panel covers at least part of thefluid barrier.
 9. The aerosol provision device of claim 1, wherein thehousing comprises a first surface portion covered by the non-removablepanel and an exposed second surface portion.
 10. The aerosol provisiondevice of claim 9, wherein the first surface portion has a first surfacetexture, and at least one of the second surface portion or an exposedpanel surface of the non-removable panel comprises a second surfacetexture different from the first surface texture.
 11. (canceled)
 12. Theaerosol provision device of claim 9, wherein the non-removable panelcomprises an exposed panel surface and the exposed panel surface is atleast substantially co-planar with the exposed second surface portion.13. The aerosol provision device of claim 9, wherein the non-removablepanel is at least substantially in contact with the first surfaceportion across an inner side of the non-removable panel.
 14. The aerosolprovision device of claim 1, wherein the non-removable panel encompassesat least part of the housing.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The aerosol provisiondevice of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a step and an edge ofthe non-removable panel abuts against the step.
 17. The aerosolprovision device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a recessed portionand the non-removable panel is in the recessed portion.
 18. The aerosolprovision device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a tubularbody and an end cap, and wherein the non-removable panel is on thetubular body.
 19. The aerosol provision device of claim 1, wherein thehousing defines a component cavity in which the aerosol generatingassembly is disposed and the aerosol generating assembly defines anarticle receiving chamber extending from the opening, and wherein thearticle receiving chamber is isolated from the component cavity. 20.(canceled)
 21. A system comprising: the aerosol provision device ofclaim 1; and an article comprising aerosol generating material.
 22. Amethod of assembling an aerosol provision device, the method comprising:providing an aerosol generating assembly; providing a housingencapsulating the aerosol generating assembly and comprising an openingfor receiving at least a part of an article in the aerosol generatingassembly; and non-removably attaching a panel to an outer side of thehousing.
 23. An aerosol provision device comprising: an aerosolgenerating assembly; and a shell encapsulating the aerosol generatingassembly the shell defining an outer surface of the aerosol provisiondevice and an opening in the outer surface for inserting at least partof an article in the aerosol generating assembly, the shell comprising afirst shell part forming a first portion of the outer surface and asecond shell part forming a second portion of the outer surface, and thefirst shell part comprising a panel extending on an inner side on thesecond shell part, and the first shell part being inseparable from thesecond shell part.
 24. An aerosol provision device comprising: anaerosol generating assembly; a housing encapsulating the aerosolgenerating assembly, the housing including an opening for receiving anarticle and the housing comprising a single ply region of a shell and amultiple ply region of a shell.
 25. The aerosol provision device ofclaim 24, wherein the multiple ply region is a double ply region.